Asamee Blog

One day while I was outside filling my bird feeder I began to notice the array of feathers strewn on the lawn. Chickadee, Grackle, Blue Jay and more. I collected a few of the best to keep and wondered at the fact that, even though I have many Cardinals who come to visit there was not one red feather to be seen. Not even the rusty brown ones belonging to the females. I began in some peculiar way to covet what was not there. I love Cardinals and I thought how sweet it would be to have just one feather to gaze upon when my little friends were absent. That set me to thinking about what I felt I deserved but was not receiving. Very selfish thoughts and I admonished myself over it.

The following day I repeated the excersise of filling the feeder. I heard a rustle close by and looking up spied an especially beautiful male Cardinal. They are usually very shy and don't come too near if they see people close by; but this one did not seem shy at all. He looked at me from his crab apple tree perch just above my head. We admired one another for a moment; then with one clear whistling call he flew from the branch up over the rooftop of the house. I watched him go and couldn't help but smile to myself. I had enjoyed his presence. As I turned back to my little task my eye was caught by another flash of red. There, against the emerald grass lay a single jewel, a ruby coloured feather. I still have that feather and will always keep it. It reminds me to be happy with what I have instead of being unhappy with what I don't have. A lesson from a Cardinal and a treasured gift.